Carole, does this still apply if you originally had access? I used to but now can't get on. I was also trying to post on the foxes wanted ad the other day on behalf of the NFTCC and couldn't. It's ok doing these things by pm but would be good to encourage people to approach club secs when looking for stock.

I know the 250 posts was done for a reason but personally I only really post if I feel I have something to contribute

Most of the information and chatting between breeders is on the open forum so you are still able to converse that way. The rule applies to everyone and I know it is unfortunate that it has caught a few people who would have had access before but 250 posts is not such a great number to reach and it ensures that members are on here to contribute as well as advertise stock for sale.

Having PM Matt for a explanation, and not having received a reply, I shall mention it here. I, like Rachael had access to the sensitive forum, but found I had had this revoked for what ever reason. You mention the point about posting 250 posts, before access, perhaps someone can explain as to why the user "zebedee" has access, when they have only posted 46 times? Seem's a bit unfair, to exclude people, who only really post when they have something constructive to contribute, especially when you deemed it prudent to grant them access previously. It is very easy to post on any old topic, and run up hundreds, or indeed thousands of post's, to become so called "experienced members", but I ask myself, how many of these "experienced members" actually know what they are talking about......

I can understand the frustration. Now that you've pointed out the error access will be removed I'm sure. We found that a lot of new members were posting multiple smilies just to reach the 50 posts rule to immediately start advertising their stock without bothering to contribute to the forum at all. One person reached the requisite 50 in ten minutes! This was the reason for increasing the number of posts required. That meant that some members who had previously had access to the sensitive subjects found themselves removed. There seems to be no way to please everyone but we do our best.

It is unfortunate that some people have been excluded when others have posted a load of claptrap to make up the 250 posts.

In an ideal world be would assess people's 'worth' on the forum by the quality of their posts not the quantity (and where they appear in the "who's who" of the cavy fancy - this is, after all, a cavy exhibitors forum).

The minimum 250 posts rule is not the one and only criteria that must be gained before access is granted to the section. We don't 'guarantee' that anyone will be given access so this attitude of stamping our feet when we don't have it needs to stop. We only consider approving people ONCE the minimum post count has been gained, except for in exceptional circumstances. I think everybody is aware that this rule was implemented recently partly because of the fact that we had a lot of intruders from 'fluffy' forums and we needed to tighten our security. This sadly did mean that those with 50+ posts may have been approved for a short while before having their access revoked. This wasn't a personal dig at anyone, it was merely a change in the rules.

How you can assess somebody's worth by quality of posts is beyond me and good luck to the person who is given that position to judge

This is a cavy breeders forum. Not a cavy exhibitors forum.This site is here to educate people in breeding and caring for their cavies responsibly. Obviously breeding to pedigree standards is important, but we have a broad spectrum of cavy fanciers here. It is not exclusively for exhibitors.As has been stated, the 250 post rule was implemented to deter people posting 50 posts in no time at all purely to sell their animals.Maybe an age rule would be better for the sensitive posts? Personally i feel if anyone would be upset by viewing the sensitive section then they aren`t suited to breed animals as there is a lot of heartache involved.

You're not wrong there Paul. It's an impossible task to make everything absolutely fair and I don't think any of the mods have the time (or the inclination) to sieve through posts deciding which are good enough for inclusion and which are aimed at drumming up the numbers. Imagine what mayhem that would cause, and even more people would be upset by it.

Quite right Paul. There was also another reason for extending the post count rule to the Sensitive area as well as classifieds, if you all cast your memories back to the intrusion of 'spies' we had from a certain other forum!

I think its a good idea to have 'tighter' security in the sensitive section. It is appreciated as it was very disconcerting to read posts from 'anti' breeding and trouble makers in general. Its a shame tho that established breeders/exhibitors who make less posts, but actually are very knowledgeable on all aspects of breeding cavies cant be included. I understand though that it is very difficult to 'police' everyone.

Matt - glad to see that although unable to answer my pm, you've found time to comment on this thread.

I don't think any of the post's on the above thread, can be described as "stamping one's feet", they merely point out the failings of your 250 post rule.

I agree with Jan A in that the quality of the person's posts, should be what counts not the quantity.

From what I can see it appears to be very easy for people to submit post's of very little substance, and rack up the numbers required to become a so called expert.......

This is my mind somewhat detrimental to the reputation of your forum, for giving out sound advice, to "educate" people in the breeding or exhibition of cavies, when those dishing out the advice, don't actually know what they are talking about!

Firstly my apologies that I haven't got around to responding to your PM yet but when time is limited it is sometimes better to post openly for all to see as a priority before dealing with individual PM's.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that people with access are 'experts' but just have a grown up attitude to sensitive areas of discussion and will contribute in there valuably. We obviously would hesitate to give somebody access that has shown to find discussions like this upsetting or infuriating in the past in other sections of the forum - even if they had an enormous post count. The section is designed to discuss topics that may not been seen as acceptable to all, and certainly may give a lot of the anti-breeder brigade the opportunity to use and take out of context such postings for their own gain.

As I have said earlier in this thread the 250 post rule is just a security measure. It does NOT mean that EVERYBODY who reaches 250 posts will automatically have their application approved. We still as a whole moderator team think carefully before approving.

My comment is a general one, not specific to the sensitive portion of the forum. What I am saying is there are members on the forum described as "Experienced Member", who are not, but given this title purely due to the quantity of posts they have submitted. As such new persons to the forum, will take the advice handed out by these users, as gospel!

How else would you do it? We cannot vet every member for their knowledge on cavies and cavy keeping. The large number of posts at least means those members have been on here some time, and hopefully picked up a lot of useful information on the way